Peter Jerome Kelley
January 17, 1943 – April 4, 2026
Long-time Washtenaw County attorney Peter Jerome Kelley died April 4 at the age of 83.
Born in Ann Arbor, Kelley grew up on a farm in Whitmore Lake that has been part of the family’s history for over 150 years.
His early education began at St Thomas the Apostle Catholic School in Ann Arbor, where his passion for knowledge lead to a focus on studying English, history, writing, and public speaking while attending Eastern Michigan University.
It was on October 14, 1960, as Kelley stood on the steps of the University of Michigan Union listening to President John F. Kennedy speak about forming the Peace Corps, that he began his journey to become a lawyer.
After earning his degree at the Detroit College of Law, and clerking for U.S. District Court Judge Cornelia G. Kennedy, Kelley became a renowned Federal Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan-Detroit.
Returning to Ann Arbor, Kelley co-founded the law firm Kelley and Rhodes in 1977 and continued to practice law until his health began to decline a few years ago.
Kelley married his college sweetheart, Catharine Jeannette Kelley of Grosse Pointe Park in 1965 and they spent the next 60 years together.
Along with his wife Catharine, Kelley is survived by sons Paul O. Kelley of Ferndale and Peter T. Kelley (Kathleen) of Royal Oak, grandsons Liam M. Kelley and Aidan P. Kelley, and daughter Kaitlyn Beaugrand of Ann Arbor.
A celebration of Kelley’s life will be held 4 to 7 p.m., Thursday, April 16 at the Muehlig Funeral Chapel, 403 S 4th Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48104. The memorial mass will be held on Friday, April 17 at Old St. Patrick’s Church, 671 Whitmore Lake Rd., Whitmore Lake, with visitations from 10 to 11 a.m., mass from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., followed by a brief ceremony at the burial site.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Kelley’s honor to the Huron Valley Humane Society at www.hshv.org.
January 17, 1943 – April 4, 2026
Long-time Washtenaw County attorney Peter Jerome Kelley died April 4 at the age of 83.
Born in Ann Arbor, Kelley grew up on a farm in Whitmore Lake that has been part of the family’s history for over 150 years.
His early education began at St Thomas the Apostle Catholic School in Ann Arbor, where his passion for knowledge lead to a focus on studying English, history, writing, and public speaking while attending Eastern Michigan University.
It was on October 14, 1960, as Kelley stood on the steps of the University of Michigan Union listening to President John F. Kennedy speak about forming the Peace Corps, that he began his journey to become a lawyer.
After earning his degree at the Detroit College of Law, and clerking for U.S. District Court Judge Cornelia G. Kennedy, Kelley became a renowned Federal Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan-Detroit.
Returning to Ann Arbor, Kelley co-founded the law firm Kelley and Rhodes in 1977 and continued to practice law until his health began to decline a few years ago.
Kelley married his college sweetheart, Catharine Jeannette Kelley of Grosse Pointe Park in 1965 and they spent the next 60 years together.
Along with his wife Catharine, Kelley is survived by sons Paul O. Kelley of Ferndale and Peter T. Kelley (Kathleen) of Royal Oak, grandsons Liam M. Kelley and Aidan P. Kelley, and daughter Kaitlyn Beaugrand of Ann Arbor.
A celebration of Kelley’s life will be held 4 to 7 p.m., Thursday, April 16 at the Muehlig Funeral Chapel, 403 S 4th Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48104. The memorial mass will be held on Friday, April 17 at Old St. Patrick’s Church, 671 Whitmore Lake Rd., Whitmore Lake, with visitations from 10 to 11 a.m., mass from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., followed by a brief ceremony at the burial site.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Kelley’s honor to the Huron Valley Humane Society at www.hshv.org.
